Ph.D. predoctoral training at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine is organized around several Multidisciplinary Training Areas (MTAs), each of which is overseen by two Co-Directors and a Steering Committee. These areas currently include: Biophysics, Structural Biology and Biomathematics, Genetics and Genomic Sciences (GGS), Molecular, Cellular, Biochemical and Developmental Sciences, Cancer Biology, Microbiology, and Neurosciences. All prospective predoctoral students apply and are admitted to the graduate program as “flexible entry” students, and are required to complete a core curriculum and participate in at least two laboratory rotations during the first year before choosing an MTA. Students selected for the Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities (MRDD) training program can be a member of any MTA. After completing their core curriculum, predoctoral students interested in MRDD research apply to the program by email to the Program Directors. Applications include an undergraduate transcript, transcript of grades completed thus far at Mount Sinai, reports of laboratory rotations, and a short description of their proposed MRDD research project (completed with their preceptor). These applications are considered annually by the MRDD Program Directors.

If accepted into the MRDD training program, in addition to all graduate school requirements, predoctoral students must attend our MRDD seminar series, participate in our journal club, and present (poster or oral presentation) at our MRDD Research Day and Retreat. In this way they will become more knowledgeable about MRDD research, and more informed of our training program in MRDD. Our MRDD seminar series is advertised campus-wide, and all predoctoral students are encouraged to attend. In addition to these requirements, all MRDD students are required to complete our MRDD didactic course and to participate in semi-annual reviews of their progress (in conjunction with the graduate school reviews).